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Cole

Chelsea legend Ashley Cole believes Major League Soccer is heading in the right direction. The former Blue talked up the league but is looking ahead to a Chelsea return, as a coach or scout.

Cole told FourFourTwo that MLS has a promising future and he’s enjoying his stateside career. Although he admits that life is tougher as an older player.

Ashley Cole – ‘It will be a very big league’

“The league is definitely growing,” he said. “MLS is demanding. You have to travel a lot, which is the main problem for older guys.

“You’re on the plane for five to seven hours and it’s not easy. But the younger guys are learning from the marquee players. In five or six years it will be a very big league.”

The 36 year old has his heart set on a Chelsea return but insists he is not finished yet: “I would like to go back to England and work for Chelsea in some capacity if I could, so that would be my first choice.

“Coaching or being a scout is something I’ve always considered and enjoyed while watching games. I try to nurture young players coming through, so it’s something I have in the back of my mind for after I finish playing. But I want to play for as long as I possibly can, because once you finish playing, you are done for life.”

Cole isn’t the only ex-Chelsea player who has talked about returning to the club. Recently departed John Terry has highlighted his ambition to one day manage the Blues. The two former England internationals could find themselves spearheading the future of the club.

If Cole is true to his word on playing for as long as he can, he could potentially lineup for Galaxy for two or more seasons. With the likes of 38 year old Andrea Pirlo – who is two years his senior – still playing in MLS.

Will Ashley Cole return to Chelsea as a coach? How much longer will he play for Galaxy?

Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Roma left back Ashley Cole is hoping for a return to West London after his playing days come to an end in Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy.

In an interview with Soccer AM, Cole revealed he is hoping to work in England after his spell in MLS, with Chelsea his preference: ‘I think I will probably look to go back one day and try to work. I want to work with something to do with Chelsea or scouting or kind of watching the young players develop. In a few years I’ll probably go back to England and try and find a job there.’

Chelsea fans won’t need reminding just how successful Cole was in his eight years at the club, where he arguably became the best left back in European football.

What would Cole bring to Chelsea as a coach?

So let’s have a look at what Ashley Cole could bring to Chelsea as a coach if he returns after his spell with LA Galaxy.

He played an integral role throughout Chelsea’s Champions League winning campaign in the 2011/12 season and scored a penalty in their shootout against Bayern Munich.

Cole’s four FA Cup wins with Chelsea give him a total of seven tournament wins overall, including his three at Arsenal. He currently holds the record for the player with the most FA Cup winning medals.

The former England international has won the Premier League three times, twice with Arsenal and he is only one of nine players to reach over 100 caps for the national side.

Defensive positioning

Cole is renowned for his defensive positioning, notably his clearances off the line. Galaxy fans have already experienced this attribute, with Cole making an incredible goal-line clearance against New York Red Bulls in their last MLS outing, albeit play was eventually bought back for offside. The left back also netted his first goal for the club in the same tie.

The former Chelsea man made two game-changing goal-line clearances in their Champions League run in 2012, one against Barcelona and the other against Napoli, both of which probably stopped his side from being dumped out of the tournament they went on to win.

Attacking flare

Many full-backs are criticised for being too attacking or one attribute overweighing the other, either great going forward and weak at the back or vice-versa. Cole possesses great forward play as well as his defensive quality, an area he would arguably be able to guide upcoming players in.

In his 337 appearances for Chelsea, Cole netted seven goals and racked up 37 assists. His best scoring season came in their 2009/10 Premier League winning campaign, where he netted four goals, including an incredibly composed strike against Sunderland which saw him win Chelsea’s goal of the season award.

Discipline

Cole has had his fair share of negative publicity throughout his career, but his discipline on the pitch is exemplary. In his 589 domestic career appearances he has received just five red cards, unfortunately for Galaxy fans two of those have come this season.

Cole insisted he still has the desire to play on for a while yet and believes the current Galaxy side should be looking at nothing less than winning it all. But at 35 his playing days will soon come to an end and it will be interesting to see where his career takes him from there.

Will Ashley Cole return to Chelsea as a coach? Would this be good for the club?

The former Arsenal and Chelsea star will join former England teammate, Steven Gerrard, in Los Angeles, while also teaming up with former Premier League rivals Robbie Keane and Giovani Dos Santos.

Keane, Gerrard and Dos Santos currently occupy all three of LA Galaxy’s Designated Player slots, meaning Cole has not joined the club as a DP.

Many MLS fans will be glad to see Cole join the league, but there are also a large number of those who are questioning the decision to sign the three-time Premier League winner after referring to Major League Soccer as “a beach” when linked with a switch two years ago.

Galaxy head coach, Bruce Arena, is aware that there are those with doubts over whether Cole can be a success, but he thinks the signing will prove to be a risk that was worth taking.

“I think that he’s a good addition to our team, but only time will tell. Whether you think it’s a risk or a gamble, these are the risks and gambles that you take,” Arena said.

“There is a real upside of having Ashley Cole with the LA Galaxy. I think that the opportunity that he’s going to have in LA is going to be a good one for him, and he’s going to be able to contribute greatly to our team.

“Ashley Cole has a great history. We know that doesn’t necessarily translate on the field when you come to MLS but my interactions over the last couple of months show me that he’s a player that has a strong desire to play here in Los Angeles.”

Cole is vastly experienced, having racked up 107 England caps over his career, playing in three World Cups and two European Championships with the Three Lions.

Crystal Palace and Manchester United have also been linked with Cole if the former Chelsea and Arsenal star opts to make a return to the Premier League.

LA Galaxy is still seen as Cole’s most likely destination but no deal appears to have been agreed as we enter 2016.

Galaxy head coach, Bruce Arena has revealed he is actively looking to bring in a few players before the start of the 2016 MLS season, with experienced additions a priority after seeing Omar Gonzalez and Juninho transferred to Mexican clubs.

“I would anticipate that we’ll add three or four players to our roster,” Arena said. “There are a lot of factors on why players come to our team as opposed to others.

“The Galaxy have a good reputation. Our players from Europe that have played here or are playing here are good spokespersons for our club.”

The Dynamo and San Jose are unlikely to move for Cole now, having signed DP strikers before the start of the season but DC could move again as they have a lack of depth in attack with Eddie Johnson unlikely to play soccer again.

Cole will also have offers from Championship clubs in England and so it will be interesting to see where his next step will take him.

Should Carlton Cole make the move to MLS this summer? Which clubs need him?